The Kentucky medical marijuana rollout is moving forward, but patients are still waiting for access. To boost transparency, Cresco Labs, a leading cannabis company, gave a rare look inside its Ohio cultivation facility. This provides a preview of what Kentucky’s medical marijuana future may look like.
Cresco Labs operates a large cultivation site in Yellow Springs, Ohio, where about 10,000 plants grow under strict regulations. The company believes educating the public is key to launching a new medical marijuana program. “We think it’s important to open the doors, behind the green curtain, and show people what we do,” said spokesperson Jason Erkes. He stressed that the cannabis industry is highly regulated, involving advanced agriculture, science, and manufacturing.
With at least one cultivation license in Kentucky, Cresco Labs expects its facilities to be 90% compliant with state regulations. Every plant at the Ohio site has a barcode for tracking, ensuring tight oversight from growth to packaging. However, the company is cautious about revealing detailed plans for Kentucky as the regulatory process is still unfolding.
Even though medical marijuana has been legal in Kentucky for over two months, there is no clear timeline for when patients can access products. Governor Andy Beshear initially hoped sales would start in early 2025, but experts warn that the process takes time. Erkes noted it took nearly two years in Ohio from breaking ground to harvesting the first plants. Licensing cultivators, educating doctors, and setting up dispensaries must align before medical marijuana reaches Kentucky patients.
For now, those waiting for access must be patient, but the look at Cresco Labs’ facility shows what’s to come.
